Owen Sound's First Small Communities Solutions Conference a Success

Small Communities Solutions Conference at the Harmony Centre brought together community members, municipal leaders, experts, and innovators to share successful strategies for tackling our challenges.

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The first (and hopefully not the last!) Small Communities Solutions Conference was held on March 29, 2025, at the Harmony Centre in Owen Sound. Led by the Harmony Centre, the event brought together community members, municipal leaders, experts, and innovators to share successful strategies for tackling challenges unique to small communities.

Funded by the Community Foundation Grey Bruce and sponsored by Vandolder’s, the intent of the conference was to highlight practical, working solutions to the pressing issues facing our region. The organizing committee was clear: presenters were to focus on what is working—not on where they hoped to go next or the barriers standing in their way.

The conference showcased actionable strategies addressing issues such as homelessness, substance use, economic development, employment, and education.

Presenters included:

• Kim Wingrove, Grey County CAO, opened the conference by emphasizing the power of collaboration to address big issues—both within and beyond the scope of mandated programs. She challenged attendees to move past the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset, encouraging openness to imperfection and innovation. County staff followed with presentations on creative approaches to homelessness, including the County’s purchase of a motel to provide cost-effective shelter, and the Transitional Housing Program—a partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)—on Owen Sound’s west side. The Sydenham Campus was also spotlighted for its many partnerships supporting local access to apprenticeships and nursing programs.

• Stuart Reid, Executive Director of the Community Foundation Grey Bruce, shared a program addressing youth homelessness through a combination of rent supplements, counselling, and mentorship. Youth participants are actively involved in the program, which reflects many elements of a basic income model.

• Annette Pedler, Executive Director of Safe ‘n Sound, spoke about two programs run through the organization: a sharps exchange initiative (currently on pause due to lack of funding), and a proposed pilot that would see staff respond to community concerns rather than relying on 911. Pedler reminded attendees that homelessness was created by a series of ideas—and so, too, can a series of ideas solve it.

• Marilyn Struthers of the Institute of Southern Georgian Bay walked attendees through her organization’s innovative approaches to the affordable housing crisis. Her message echoed a common theme: collaboration is key, and everyone has a role in the solution.

• Heidi Lucas, a public health nurse with Grey Bruce Public Health, introduced a pilot program using drug test strips as a harm reduction strategy. Feedback from participants showed that the information gleaned from using the strips significantly changed substance use behaviours—from reduced use to complete abstinence.

• Kevin McNabb, recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal and Director of Paramedic Services, recounted the origin story of the Supportive Outreach Services (SOS) program. What began during a COVID-19 outbreak in a Hanover rooming house has since grown into a multidisciplinary, award-winning initiative connecting marginalized individuals with health and social supports. With over 30 organizations involved and bi-weekly collaboration meetings, the SOS program exemplifies the power of community partnership.

• Chief Craig Ambrose, Owen Sound Police Chief, addressed the community’s call for action on open drug use. While acknowledging that police are not the ideal response to service gaps, he informed attendees that enforcement of public drug use laws would be stepped up. He emphasized that the lack of local wraparound services limits the effectiveness of harm reduction approaches.

Two presenters joined from beyond the region—one from Canada’s west coast and one from the east:

• Lori Pyne, Executive Director of the Squamish Helping Hands Society (BC), focused on involving service users in co-creating solutions. Her call to reframe community relationships reinforced a powerful message: the answers lie within our communities.

• Gwen Patrick, originally from Fogo Island, Newfoundland and now the Financial Innovation Lead at the Shorefast Institute, spoke on holistic economic development strategies for small communities. She described how the people of Fogo Island faced their challenges by leaning into community-driven action.

The event also featured local musical talent david sereda, who brought a creative energy to the room with live performances before the coffee breaks—adding another layer to the inspiration in the air.

In reflecting on the day, Kim Wingrove noted that neither federal nor provincial governments are likely to “rescue” us—and that we must be the architects of our own solutions. Lori Pyne introduced the idea of “multi-solving”: addressing multiple problems with a single solution.

The challenges we face may be complex, but they are not insurmountable. These are not problems with tidy, technical fixes—they require thoughtful, flexible, people-centered approaches. The success of the SOS program didn’t come from funding alone; it grew from relationships. Every program presented noted the impact of limited funding—but what was also clear was the strength of interconnectedness within our community.

As the day came to a close, we were left with one final challenge: to approach hope not just as a feeling, but as a mindset. All it takes is a goal, the agency to act, and a pathway to follow.

Submitted by Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director, United Way of Bruce Grey; member of the Small Communities Solutions Conference planning committee and co-chair of the SOS Program.